Brass and Gold stuns field in BC Cup Classic

Brass and Gold, with Scott Williams in the irons, wins the Redekop BC Cup Classic at Hastings Racecourse on Monday afternoon. Brass and Gold is owned by Lois and R.J. Bennett and trained by Barb Heads.

Photograph by: ...
, Four Footed Fotos

VANCOUVER – The return of jockey Mario Gutierrez to Hastings Racecourse got the largest crowd of the season stirred up but it was Scott Williams’ stunning victory aboard Brass and Gold in the Redekop BC Cup Classic that put things over the top on a sun-drenched Monday afternoon.

Williams scored a major upset on Brass and Gold in the $75,000 feature for 3-year-olds and up bred in B.C. for owners Russell and Lois Bennett and trainer Barb Heads.

“I pressed the go button and he did the rest,” Williams said from the winner’s circle. A jubilant Heads quipped: “Scott did everything that I told him not to do … It was a great ride.”

Brass and Gold finished the 1 1/8 miles in a time of 1:49.40, paying $41.50, $19.80 and $7.90. With another long shot – The Gov– finishing second and favoured Wilo Kat placing third, the 2-7-8 triactor paid a whopping $2,301.30.

Brass and Gold, bred by the Bennetts, is by Sungold and the Dixieland Brass mare Always Brassy.

There were six stake races on the lively BC Cup card reserved for B.C.-breds and Gutierrez had the estimated crowd of 10,000 standing as one following his victory on Tempered Steel in the $50,000 Dogwood for 3-year-old fillies.

‘Super Mario’ as he’s known by his adoring fans flew to Vancouver Sunday night from Del Mar Race Track in Southern California after becoming an international sensation last year by winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes on I’ll Have Another.

Tempered Steel, trained by Brian (Spud) O’Connell, narrowly beat Locket by 1 ¼ lengths going 1 1/16 miles in a time of 1:44.45. “She relaxed for me,” Gutierrez said as the crowd chanted ‘Mario, Mario, Mario’. “When I asked her to close she took command.”

Dashing Daisy was a $46.60 winner in the $50,000 Distaff for fillies and mares with Antonio Reyes up for trainer William LaVanway. Dashing Daisy came from far off the pace and caught Wando Woman at the wire to win by a neck in a final time of 1:50.90 over 1 1/8 miles. With second favourite Dance the Wind finished third, the 1-5-8 triactor paid $1,554.40.

Go for Guinness with jockey Amadeo Perez won the $50,000 Stellar’s Jay for 3-year-old colts and geldings with relative ease, drawing off with a 6 ½ length victory over Mark in a final time of 1:43.10 over 1 1/16 miles. “He relaxed early and finishing strong,” said Perez.

Architecture didn’t disappoint in the $50,000 Debutante 6 ½ furlong sprint for 2-year-old fillies. Ridden by Enrique Gonzalez for trainer Dino Condilenios. Paying $4.50, Architecture won by a neck over Habida in a final time of 1:18.00.

On a day of upsets, Andallthatitmeans paid $17.10 in winning the $50,000 Nursery for 2-year-old colts and geldings for Scott Williams’ first of three wins during the afternoon. With odds-on favourite Deviance finishing third behind runner-up Son of Tiago, the 7-4-8 triactor paid $863.30.

Raj Mutti, Regional General Manager, BC Racing and GM at Hastings Racecourse, thanked the horsemen and fans for making the 2013 BC Cup Day one of the most successful in years. “Having Mario back in town and winning a stakes put the cherry on top of the afternoon,” Mutti said. He was thrilled that the total handle was $1.27 million, including $466,000 on track. “On a per race average overall,” he noted, “the handle was up 43.5% and up 22% on track."

Brass and Gold, with Scott Williams in the irons, wins the Redekop BC Cup Classic at Hastings Racecourse on Monday afternoon. Brass and Gold is owned by Lois and R.J. Bennett and trained by Barb Heads.

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.